Building construction.



vPatentgad Oct. I5Y

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT IVILLIAM KING, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

SFECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,438, dated October15, 1901.

Application filed February 18, 1901. Serial No. 47,724. (No model.)

T0 {LZ/ whom, it 771mg/ concern:

Beit known that I, ROBERT WILLI an KING, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, haveinvented an Improvement in Building Construction, ot which the followingdescription, in connection with the accom panying drawings, is aspecification, like nu nierals on the drawings represent-ing like parts.

This invention relates to building construction which is especiallyadapted for greenhouses and similar structures; and its object is toprovide a construction which will include means for collecting themoisture or water of condensation which gathers on the inside of theroof of the building. The construction also involves means forconducting such moisture or water of condensation after it has beencollected through the supports for the roof and into a suitabledrain,which will carry the same outside of the building.

Ina greenhouse or other building where the moisture in the air condensesand collects upon the inside walls thereof constructed in accordancewith my invention the annoyance due to the inside drip is entirelyobviated.

In constructing my greenhouse to accomplish the above-named object Iprovide suitable hollow arch-supports for the roof, upon which aremounted troughs or other open conduits, situated directly underneath thelower portions of the slopes or the valley of the roof, so that anywater of condensation which gathers upon the roof and runs down the samewill be collected in the open conduits or troughs and be conducted bythem to the hollow supports, the said water passing through the supportsand into the drain. The hollow arch-supports for the roof comprise whatI term arch-heads,77 which are supported at each end by tubularstandards or legs, said standards being connected to the drain. Thearch-heads have suitably supported thereon beams which run lengthwise ofthe roof at the valley of the roof, where the adjacent spans of the roofmeet, and said beams have secured to either side thereof suitablebrackets in which the lower ends of the sash-bars of the roof are supported. Immediately underneath the beams,at either side thereof andsupported on the arch-heads, are the troughs above mentioned, whichempty into the hollow arch' heads. The brackets which support the endsof the sash-bars are formed with a drip-groove lSurrounding, the same,the mouth of the dripgroove being immediately over the trough, so thatany7 water which runs down the sash-bars will be collected in saidgrooves and deposited into the trough.

A greenhouse embodying my invention will be free from the annoyance dueto the continual dripping of the water of condensation which collects onthe inside of the roof thereof or that may leak through the joints ofthe glass.

In the drawings, Figure lis a section on the line l l, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isa section on the line 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3, Fig.l. Fig. 4 is a section of the sash-supporting bracket on the line 4,Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an elevation of such bracket, and Fig. G is a sectionof the sash-bar.

Greenhouse-roofs are usually made with a series of parallel roof-arches,which generally run longitudinally of the building, each roofarchcomprising the usual sash-bars, to which the glass is attached, thesash-bars serving as rafters and having their lower ends attached to andsupported by beams, which beams are carried by suitable supports. Whenthe roof comprises a series of parallel roof-arches, the meeting edgesof adjacent arches are supported on a beam which extends along thevalley of the roof and is common to both arches, and in Fig. 2areillustrated the meeting portions of two such adjacent roof arches orspans. Since the number of arches in any one roof depends on the size ofthe greenhouse and since each arch is of the same structure, it is notdeemed necessary to further illustrate the invention. Each roof-archcomprises the usual sash-bars 22, which support the glass in anyordinary way, the said sash-bars'being supported at their lower ends bythe beams 8, which beams are common to two adjacent arches and run,preferably, lengthwise of the building along the valley of the roof. Themeans for supporting lower end sash-bars will be hereinafter described.The beams 8 are supported on suitable archsupports comprising what Iterm archheads 3 and standards or legs 4 for supporting each endthereof, the said arch-heads being in the nature of cross-girders, whichlie IOO at right angles to the beams S and are centrally positionedunder said beams, as seen in Fig. 2. Each arch-head is hollow, ashereinafter described, and the standards or legs 4 are also hollow, theypreferably being tubular and being supported in arch-feet 5, which restou suitable foundations, the said archfeet being connected by pipe 6 toa drain 7. The arch-supports thus described form the support for theroof-trusses, and, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the said arch-heads orcrossgirders are made slightly arching and of cha-nnel-iron, so thatthey are substantially U shape in cross-section, and to strengthen thesame I preferably provide the under side of each arch-head with the web3. As illustrated, each arch-head carries the chair 9, shown asinverted-U shape,thelower portions thereof having the notches 10, whichset into suitable notches 11 in the top of the side portions of theU-shaped arch-heads, as plainly seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The top of thechair 9 is provided with a countersink, in which the head of a bolt 12rests, the said bolt passing down through the bottom of the U-shapedarch-head 3 and serving to secure the chair rmly in place. Each end ofthe chair is provided with a suitable aperture 13, through which lugs 14upon the beam ends 15 project, the said beam ends having secured to themin any suitable way the beams S. To prevent the beam ends from becomingdisengaged from the chairs, I may, if desired, pass suitable pins 16through the lower ends of the lugs, as seen in Fig. 1.

Vith this construction it will be seen that the beams S and theirattached beam ends serve to tie together the various arch-heads, and inorder to strengthen the beam I truss the same by attaching thereto theposts 18, having open sockets at their lower ends, in which the truss-rod 19 is seated,the said trussrod being fastened at its ends in anysuitable way to lugs or ears 20 upon the beam ends. The beams 8, it willbe understood, support the lower end of the sash-bars 22, the saidsash-bars serving as a support for the usual glass roof. I have devisedspecial fittings or brackets 40 (illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 and 5)for thus securing the lower ends of the sash-bars to the beam 8, suchbrackets or castings having the side flanges 23 provided with thevertical edge 25 and the base 24, which is inclined, as illustrated inFig. 4, the upper edge of said base meeting the sides of the beam 8 at apointintermediate to the'upper and lower edges thereof, as seen in Fig.2, by reason of which construction the ends of the sash-bars restpartially against the base 24 and partially against the sides of thebeam 8, it being understood that the ends of each sash-bar are beveledto fit the angle between the base 24 of the fitting or bracket and theside of the beam 8, the ends of the sashbars being secured to thebrackets by suitable screws 51. The side flanges 23 have integraltherewith the perforated ears or lugs 25, by means of which the saidbrackets or castings are secured to the sides of the beams S, and thelower portion of each of said brackets has the upwardly-inclined flange27 projecting therefrom on three sides thereof, the said flange forminga drip-groove for the purpose of collecting any water of condensationwhich runs down the sash-bars. Each sash-bar is preferably provided witha dripgroove 48, running longitudinallyalong each side thereof, and theside flanges 23 are provided with the cut-away portion 49, which is inline with the drip-groove 4S, whereby any water which runs down saiddrip-groove 48V can flow through the cut-away portion 49 of the sideflanges and into the drip-groove surrounding the bracket 40. Underneatheither side of the beam 8 and'seated in suitable recesses in the top ofthe side pieces of the archheads 3 are troughs or open conduits 30,whichempty into the U -shaped arch-heads, as plainly seen in Fig. 1.

W'ith this construction it will be obvious that any water ofcondensation which collects on the glass or the sash-bars and runs downthe same to the bottom of the slope of the roof will drip off into thetroughs 30 and be conducted to the hollow arch heads and through thestandards 4 to the drains 7., the water which runs down the sash-barsbeing collected by the drip-groove 27 in the brackets 40 and beingdeposited into the troughs. It will be noted in this connection that'thedrip-groove which surrounds the bracket 40 is constructed on a slightinclination, as seen in Fig. 4, so that the water will freely pass outof the mouth thereof into the trough 30.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the posts 18 are provided onopposite sides with IOO lugs 43, upon which the troughs 30 rest in- Ytermediate to their ends, the inside of said troughs being bolted to theposts by bolts 44. Y

IIO

12o Y L.

In order to strengthen the roof-trusses,

certain of the sash-bars may be trussed, as seen at the right in Fig. 2,in which case the corresponding bracket 40 will have the lug 36depending from the outer side thereof, the said lug serving to sustainthe truss-rod 37, which passes over a king-post 38, secured to thepurlin 50, and is secured at its other end to the roof-ridge in anysuitable way. (Not shown.) The arch-heads at either side of anyroof-arch may be tied together by suitable tie-rods 39, which areconnected to the bolt 12 at their ends in any suitable way, the

.said tie-rods preferably having asuitable turnbuckle 4l therein forthepurpose of keeping the structure taut. A roof made as above describedis exceedingly strong and durable and at the same time can be easily setup or taken down should occasion require, and, furthermore, provision ismade for the collecting and conducting to the outside of the buildingthrough the hollow supports for the roof of any water of condensationwhich accumulates on the inside of the roof.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the structureof my device without departing from the spirit of my invention, and Itherefore reserve the right to make such changes as come within theappended claims.

, Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In building construction, a roof, a series of hollow supportstherefor, said supports being connected to a suitable drain, and meansto conduct any moisture which collects ou the inside of the roof throughsaid hollow supports to the drain.

2. In building construction, a roof, a series of hollow supportstherefor, said supports being connected to a suitable drain, a trough oropen conduit sustained by said supports and emptying into the same, saidtrough being situated at the bottom of the slopes of Ithe roof, wherebymoisture which collects on the inside of said roof will be conductedthrough said troughs and hollowsupports to the drain.

3. In building construction, a series of hollow arch-heads, roof-trussessupported thereon, and means for conducting the water of condensationwhich collects on the inside of the roof through the hollow arched headsand to a drain.

4. In building construction, a roof, a series ot' hollow arch-headssupporting the same, tubular standards for the arch-heads, said tubularstandards being connected to a suitable drain, and a series of troughssituated at the bottom of the slopes of the roof and emptying into saidhollow arch-heads, whereby any moisture that collects on the inside ofthe roof is deposited into the troughs and conducted through thesupports to the drain.

5. In building construction, a series of hollow supports, beams carriedthereby, a roof supported on said beams, means to conduct any moisturewhich gathers on the inside of said roof to said hollow supports, andmeans to conduct said moisture from the hollow supports to the outsideof the building.

6. Inbuildingconstructionforgreenhouses, a series of hollow supportswhich are connected to a suitable drain, beams supported thereby,sash-bars connected at their lower ends to said beams, said sash-barswith the glass attached thereto forming the roof, and troughs underneathsaid beams and emptying into the hollow supports, whereby any moisturewhich collects on the inside of the roof is conducted through thetroughs into the hollow supports.

7. In building construction, a series of archheads, U shape incross-section, hollow standards supporting the same, beams carried bysaid arch-heads and supporting the roof, and troughs mounted on saidarch -heads and emptying into the same, said troughs being situatedunderneath said beams, whereby the moisture which is collected on theinside of the roof will be caught by said troughs and conducted throughthe arch-heads.

8. In building construction forgreenhouses, a series of hollowarch-supports, which are connected to a suitable drain, beams carriedthereby, brackets secured to said beams and adapted to support the lowerends of the sashbars, said brackets havinga drip-groove eX- tendingaround the same, and a trough carried by and emptying into saidarch-supports and situated beneath said beanuwhereby any moisture whichcollects on the inside of the roof will be caught in said trough, themoisture which runs down the sash-bars being directed by the drip-groovein the brackets into the trough.

9. In building construction forgreenhouses, a series of hollowarch-supports, which are connected to a suitable drain, beams carriedthereby and supporting the meeting edges of adjacent roofarches,brackets attached to both sides of said beams, said brackets having adrip-groove extending arou ud the same, and side iianges provided with acut-away portion, sash-bars supported at their lower ends in saidbrackets, and between said side flanges, said sash-bars having adrip-groove which registers with the cut-away portion of the sideiianges, whereby the water which runs down the drip-grooves in thesash-bars is caught by the drip-grooves in the brackets, and means toconduct said water discharged by said drip-grooves in the brackets tothe hollow arch-supports. Y

l0. In building construction for green houses, a series of hollowarch-supports which are connected to a suitable drain,beams carried bysaid arch-supports, brackets attached to the said beams, said bracketshaving a dripgroove surrounding the same, sash-bars supported at theirlower ends in said brackets, delecting-plates secured between thebrackets and beam, and troughs supported on and emptying into saidarch-supports whereby any water that runs down the inside of the roofwill be deflected by said plates into the troughs and emptied into thehollow arch-supports.

ll. In building construction for greenhouses, a series of hollow arch-supports, beams carried thereby, brackets connected to said beams, saidbrackets having a dripgroove extending around the same, sash-barssupported at their lower ends in said brackets, and troughs situatedunderneath said brackets and emptying into the said hollow IOOarch-supports, certain of said brackets having a lug dependingtherefrom, and the corresponding sash-bars being trussed and having thetruss-rod secured to said lug.

12. In building construction, aseries of hollow arch-supports, chairssupported thereon and extending across the saine, beam ends secured tosaid chairs, and beams secured to said beam ends and tying together theadjacent arch-supports,-and a roof supported on said beams.

13. In building construction 'for greenhouses, a roof and supportstherefor, said roof comprising a series of sash-bars serving as rafters,and glass suit-ablysupported on said sash-bars, and a separate bracketfor supporting the lower end of each sash-bar, said brackets each havinga drip-groove partially surrounding the same, and means to catch theWater delivered from the drip-grooves.

14. A supporting-bracket for sash-bars in greenhouse-roofs, said brackethaving an inclned base or body portion of a size to lit and adapted tosupport the end of a sash-bar, and a drip-groove extending around threesides of said base or body portion, whereby any moisture which runs downthe sash-bar is collected by the drip-groove.

l5. A supporting-bracket for sash-bars in greenhouse-roofs, said brackethaving an i11- clined base or body portion adapted to support the end ofa sash-bar, parallel side dan ges either side of said base or bodyportion, each side ange having a cut-away portion, and a drip-groovepartially surrounding the base.

1G. A supporting-bracket for sash-bars inY greenhouse-roofs, saidbracket having an in-- Y clined base or body portion, parallel sideanges either side thereof, each side flangeV Y V 4o tially surroundingthe base or body portion, Y,

having a cut-away portion, a drip-groove par'- ears extending from saidside anges for attaching the bracket to a beam or other support, and aperforated lug at the base of the body portion adapted to receive atruss-rod.

17. In a building construction t'or greenhouses, a roof comprising theusual sash-bars, Y

supports for the roof, said supports including a beam and a series ofAbrackets detachablysupported on the sides thereof, saidY brackets beingadapted to receive the ends of the sash-bars, and each bracket having adrip- ROBERT WILLIAM KING.

\Vitnesses:

ALEXANDER` MILLS, J AMES HALEs.

ss .Y i

